For most of my life, I knew who I was.

Grounded in my faith, empathetic, certain of my purpose, and steady under pressure. A natural problem-solver with a deep sense of discipline and an unshakeable belief that love, hard work, and the right approach could overcome anything. I brought all of that into parenting my beautiful, brilliant child — adopted from Guatemala and loved fiercely from day one. I loved hard and worked hard to give my child every opportunity. I believed I was prepared for whatever would come our way.

I was not prepared for this.

When mental illness and addiction entered our lives, everything I thought I knew about myself and strengths as a parent collapsed. The nights on the bathroom floor in tears. The rage-filled confrontations. The crushing, relentless feeling that I could cure it. All the confidence I had spent a lifetime building — gone. I was exhausted.

That’s when I made the hardest and most important decision for this season of my life. I stopped trying to fix my emerging young adult, and started healing myself.

Out of love, necessity, and sheer determination, I turn my attention inward. I became a relentless student — of family recovery, mental health, emotional healing, and substance use disorder. I read everything I could get my hands on. I attended trainings, sat in support groups, and learned from multiple parents and professionals who had walked this road before me. What I gained wasn’t just knowledge. It was wisdom. Clarity. Confidence. Resilience. Self-Awareness. Understanding. Peace. And a hope I had to fight hard to find.

I pivoted and shifted my focus onto the only person I could control — Me. Then slowly, and with a lot of practice, I found my own path to recovery. And what about my young adult child? Well…they are also finding their path.

I believe too deeply in the power of community to keep any of this to myself. So here I am — a certified coach and, most importantly, a parent who is living this journey and has been where you are — sharing the tools, support, and hard-won insight, skills, and wisdom that helps me reclaim my peace, clarity, joy, and my life regardless of where my child is on their journey. I deeply want this freedom for you too!